It’s heat season in New York City, meaning that from Oct. 1 through May 31, your landlord is required to keep the temperature in your apartment at least 62 degrees during the night and 68 degrees during the day. Reliable heat isn’t just a luxury — it’s a necessity. You should not find yourself shivering in your apartment with no heat. New York City has laws that protect tenants’ rights to a warm living space, and knowing what to do can make a big difference. Here’s a step-by-step guide for Bronx tenants who have no heat in their apartments during the colder months.

1. Call 311

If you feel cold in your apartment, call 311 immediately to file a complaint. The Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) is required to promptly send inspectors to take the temperature of apartments where a tenant has filed a noise complaint. If the temperature is below to legal threshold, HPD will issue an immediately hazardous violation — meaning the landlord must fix the condition within 24 hours or be fined. You can also file a complaint online at HPD’s website.

You should also notify your landlord about problems with the heat, but that doesn’t mean you should delay filing a complaint. Unfortunately, some landlords won’t do the right thing. It’s better to call HPD right away than risk having to spend another night shivering. If you’re landlord fixes the heat before the HPD inspector arrives, you can notify HPD that the issue has been resolved.

2. Go to Court

If your landlord fails to restore the heat after HPD issues a violation, you can go to Bronx Housing Court. The court can order the landlord to restore the heat and issue fines against the landlord. You can bring a case against your landlord even if you don’t have a lawyer. Go to the court’s Help Center with documentation of the HPD violations and any other evidence you have against the landlord.

Here is the address for Bronx Housing Court’s Help Center:

Bronx County Housing Court
1118 Grand Concourse, Room 250
Bronx, NY 10456

3. Seek Legal Assistance

You can also request legal assistance from the organizations listed below. Some will provide legal advice while others might be able to provide you with an attorney:

Housing Court Answers: 212-962-4795

Bronx Legal Services: 917-661-4500

The Legal Aid Society: 718-991-4600

New York Legal Assistance Group (NYLAG): 929-356-9582

BronxWorks: 646-393-4000

Part of the Solution (POTS): 718-220-4892 ext:101

Mobilization for Justice: 212-417-3700

Urban Justice Center – Safety Net Project: 646-602-5600

TakeRoot Justice: 212-810-6744

This article is meant to be a resource for tenants. It is not legal advice.